Bicyclists gear up for Tour de Summerlin

Hundreds of bicyclists will unite next month for the second annual Tour de Summerlin, a noncompetitive ride that drew nearly 500 participants last year. The event will be held Saturday, April 5 and will comprise 12-mile, 37-mile and 62-mile (metric century) routes.

The ride will start and finish at Summerlin Centre Community Park, located on Town Center Drive between Sahara Avenue and Charleston Boulevard. Most of the rides will take place on an extensive system of dedicated bike lanes and shared roadways. The course terrains will vary, according to Kristi Overgaard, an executive with The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of Summerlin.

"The 12-mile course is a fairly flat ride that beginners and recreational riders will enjoy, while the 37- and 62-mile courses offer more challenging rides. But regardless of your level, the event offers a safe and enjoyable ride amid breathtaking scenery."

"Summerlin is the ideal location for this event," said Chris Hansel, co-founder of Vegas Velo Racing Team. "Not only is it the gateway to Red Rock, it is a development that has contributed significant resources to accommodate bikers and other sports enthusiasts."

Summerlin resident Kristi Cheval, an avid cyclist, agreed.

"One of the great benefits of living in Summerlin is its close proximity to Red Rock," she said. "As a child, I lived near Rainbow (Boulevard) and (U.S. Highway) 95; that was the edge of the earth then. My dad and I used to ride to Red Rock on Charleston (Boulevard) back when it was a two-lane road."

Cheval is a member of a women's bike team sponsored by local retailer McGhie's Ski Bike Board.

The entry fee for the 12-mile course is $15 in advance, $25 for late registration. Entry fees for the 37-mile and 62-mile courses are $35 in advance, $45 for late registration. A family entry fee includes one free child per paid adult entry.

The deadline to pre-register is March 28. Late registration will be available Friday, April 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, April 5, from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. at Summerlin Centre Community Park.

The 62-mile ride starts at 8 a.m., followed by the 37-mile ride at 8:30 a.m., and the 12-mile ride at 9 a.m. Post-ride refreshments and entertainment will be provided from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Registration forms are available at various locations, including McGhie's, located at 4503 W. Sahara Ave., as well as at the Summerlin Home Finding Center, which can be reached by taking Sahara Avenue west, past Hualapai Way, to Town Center Drive and turning north. Or, take Interstate 215 to Sahara, head east to Town Center and turn north. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Tour de Summerlin is underwritten and organized by Hughes Corp. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Outside Las Vegas Foundation, a nonprofit organization.

Summerlin features 105 neighborhood and village parks, more than 100 miles of trails, 18 schools, houses of worship, shopping centers, medical facilities, cultural facilities, business parks and eight golf courses.

About 165 model homes are open, showcasing single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums priced from the mid-$100,000s to more than $700,000. Custom-home sites in The Ridges village are priced from the $500,000s to more than $1 million, and custom homes are priced from $2.1 million. Apartment rents start from the high $700s.

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